An online fundraiser for Karmelo Anthony, the high school student who stabbed student-athlete Austin Metcalf to death at a track meet in Frisco, Texas, last week, has raised over $230,000 in total donations.
“The narrative being spread is false, unjust, and harmful,” the Anthony family said in a statement on the crowdfunding platform GiveSendGo. “As a family of faith, we are deeply grateful for all of your support during this trying period. Your prayers and assistance mean more to us now more than ever.”
The “Help Karmelo Official Fund” was created to support “Karmelo and his family during this challenging and difficult time.”
The fundraising goal was previously set at $200,000, but now that it’s reached $234,542 and counting, the goal has been raised to $300,000.
Anthony and Austin Metcalf—both 17— were competing in a championship meet at Kuykendall Stadium in Frisco when an altercation between them turned deadly.
In the moments before the stabbing, Metcalf, a junior at Memorial High School in Frisco, had told Anthony that he needed to move out of the his team’s tent, according to a witness interviewed by police. The arrest report states that Anthony then “grabbed his bag, opened it and reached inside it” and said, “Touch me and see what happens.”
The witness told police that “no one really thought Anthony really had weapons in his bag,” so “Metcalf proceeded to touch him.”
Anthony then allegedly said, “punch me and see what happens.” A short time later, according to the arrest report, Metcalf grabbed Anthony and told him to move. That’s when Anthony allegedly pulled out his knife and stabbed Austin in the heart.
Metcalf grabbed his chest, told his teammates to get help, and then passed away in his brother’s arms.
When police arrived at the scene, an officer said: “I have the alleged suspect,” prompting Anthony to say, “I’m not alleged, I did it.”
Once inside the police cruiser, Anthony asked if Metcalf was okay and asked if what he did would be considered self-defense.
The day after the stabbing, Amelia Mugavero, a reporter for CBS 11, reported on Facebook that law enforcement sources involved in the investigation had told CBS New Texas that Anthony had been previously suspended for bringing a knife to school.
Moreover, according to the now deleted post, Anthony “should have been in class at Centennial High School and was skipping school” when he stabbed Metcalf.
Mugavero later said she would be “redacting” the post until the school district verifies the information, which they are prevented from doing due to privacy laws.
Anthony has been charged with first-degree murder and is currently being held in the Collins County Jail on a $1 million bond.
“I know that my client said it was self-defense. I don’t have any reason to disbelieve that, but I need to develop facts, talk to people and figure out what’s going on before I make any statements about what I think happened,” said attorney Deric Walpole, who was hired by Anthony’s family Friday. “I don’t have any reason to think it wasn’t self-defense at this time.”
Many of the donors posting on the fundraising site have offered their prayers and commented that they believe Anthony was only defending himself.
“Self defense in a stand your ground state this young man did nothing wrong and has the right to defend himself as the legal system said it was right for Daniel Penny and Kyle Rittenhouse it’s right for him too,” said one comment.
Another commenter suggested that racism was to blame.
“stay strong young brother, all of us that have came up in this country hope to never go through this or see others like us go through this, but it is an unfortunate reality of this country that these people can appear to do as they like until we make a drastic and lasting change,” another comment said. “Let your legal be the fight one of the many victories in this seemingly eternal fight against racism and evil.”
Another donor said: “When a vile monster threatens you, it is okay to defend yourself by any means neccessary(sic). Karmelo, we have your back.”
Commenter James Martin, who donated $10.00, wrote: “stay strong! do not let these b*asta*ds get you down! mayo days are numbered. free karmelo anthony!”
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